George Inlet is a long arm of the sea running north from the Tongass Narrows on the far side of the ridge behind Ketchikan. The South Tongass Highway follows its western shore past Herring Cove to the end of the road, through country that is quiet, forested and scattered with waterfalls. Its sheltered water is home to Dungeness crab, and to the eagles, seals and occasional whales that most visitors are hoping to see.
The inlet was once a cannery district. The George Inlet Cannery, built in the 1910s and worked until the late 1950s, still stands on its pilings, and the lodge that hosts today’s crab feasts was originally a cannery bunkhouse, floated here from another site.
Top things to do: George Inlet
Crab feast and wilderness cruise
The signature excursion: a boat trip on the inlet to pull crab pots and learn how the fishery works, followed by a sit-down meal of steamed Dungeness crab with all the trimmings at the waterside lodge.
Jet-boat and seafood trips
Newer tours explore the bays and inlets around Ketchikan by fast boat, add a short rainforest walk and finish with a seafood boil — a similar idea with more time on the water. See our tours page.
The historic cannery
The George Inlet Cannery is one of the better-preserved salmon canneries in the region. Guided visits have been offered in some seasons, explaining the machinery and the lives of the mostly Asian and Native workforce; check whether it is open in the year you visit.
Drive to the end of the road
With a car, continue past Herring Cove along the inlet to the road’s end near Beaver Falls, with pull-outs for views and waterfalls after rain.
How to get there
- By road: the lodge is roughly 15 miles south of downtown on the South Tongass Highway, about 30 minutes’ drive.
- By tour: crab-feast excursions include coach transport from the docks; this is how nearly all visitors come.
- No public bus serves this part of the highway.
Insider tips
- Come hungry: the crab is served until you stop asking. Bibs and tools are provided; so is a quick lesson.
- Shellfish allergy? This is not the excursion for you — alternatives are limited.
- The whole trip takes around four hours. Check it fits your port time.
- Dress for the boat: it is cooler on the water, and you will want to be outside for the wildlife.
Best tours for this sight
These bookable Ketchikan excursions fit best with a visit to George Inlet:
Boat tour & meal from $194 Ketchikan: Jet Boat Tour with Rainforest Walk & Seafood Boil
A jet boat carries you through the bays and inlets around Ketchikan, followed by a walk on an elevated boardwalk trail through the rainforest and a seafood boil featuring Dungeness crab. Three experiences in under four hours.
- Jet-boat ride through bays and inlets
- Walk on an elevated rainforest boardwalk
- Seafood boil with Dungeness crab
Boat tour from $249 Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour
Sail out on a working crab boat with a crew of commercial fishermen. They haul pots of crab, octopus and prawns onto the deck, share first-hand stories of survival on the Bering Sea, and bald eagles swoop to snatch fish from the water. Educational, interactive and surprisingly moving.
- Watch crab pots hauled aboard a real crab-fishing vessel
- See crab, octopus and prawns up close on deck
- Bald eagles diving for fish beside the boat
Kayaking from $206 Ketchikan: Orca Cove Fast Boat & Sea Kayaking Tour
Escape the port crowds on a three-hour trip: a fast boat takes you to sheltered coves, where you paddle stable sea kayaks along the shoreline with knowledgeable guides, watching for eagles, seals and whales.
- Fast boat ride to secluded coves
- Guided paddle among eagles and marine wildlife
- Small group, beginner-friendly
